Preta

Gaki as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei

Preta or Gaki (ガキ or 餓鬼, Gaki)^?, is a demon in the series.

History

Preta (प्रेत in Sanskrit, Peta in Pali, Yidak (ཡི་དྭགས་) in Tibetan, E-gui (餓鬼) in Chinese, Gaki (餓鬼) in Japanese, usually "Hungry ghost" in English) is a spirit that originates from Buddhist and Hindu texts. Generally, they are the spirits of greedy, jealous or corrupted people who have become, for their negative karma, demons with an insatiable appetite for a particular substance, that can vary from corpses to anything bizarre. In some Buddhism religions, Preta is the name of one of the Six Realms that represent the Six States of Rebirth. In the Chinese traditional religion, they are beings driven by intense emotional needs in an animalistic way. In the modern Japanese language, spoiled children are called "gaki," as a reference to this demon.

Preta are described as human-like spirits that are usually invisible to the human eyes depending on their mental state. They have sunken, mummified skin, narrow limbs, an enormously distended belly and a long, thin neck; their appearance, as so, reflect their state of insatiable hunger.

In Japanese art, they are represented with bulging stomachs and small mouths and throats or as balls of smoke or fire, and are shown, usually, licking spilled water in temples, accompanied by demons that represent their agony. They dwell in the wastes and in the deserts and usually have problems while dealing with their hunger and end up becoming even more hungry: someone can eat a little, but have difficulties in finding food or drinks or have problems swallowing food; some even find that what they eat seems to burst into flames or see the food they desire vanishing before their eyes.

In Hinduism, their body is composed of air and akaash (comparable to aether, black matter or space), and since they are missing three elements (fire, water and earth), physical intake and digestion is not possible for them. They usually suffer similar conditions to those in hell, but they can freely move instead of being confined in a subterranean world.

Preta are usually not seen by humans as a nuisance unless their hunger is for blood, though in some other traditions, they prevent others from satisfying their own desire. Many times, though, they are seen as beings to be pitied and, for example, in some monasteries monks leave them some offerings before meals; some Japanese Buddhists also dedicate a day to remember them, as they believe that such offerings and remembrances will, someday, free them from their endless pain.

Appearances

• Shin Megami Tensei: Ghost Race
• Shin Megami Tensei II: Haunt Race
• Shin Megami Tensei: if...: Haunt Race
• Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX: Haunt Race
• Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Devil's Colosseum: Ghost Race, Tutorial boss
• Shin Megami Tensei NINE: Spirit Race
• Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne: Haunt Race
• Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE: Haunt Race
• Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey: Haunt Race
• Shin Megami Tensei IV: Ghost Race
• Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse: Ghost Race
• Last Bible III
• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Haunt Race
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers: Haunt Race
• Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon: Frost Order
  • Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Lone Marebito
• Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku: Haunt Race
• Megami Ibunroku Persona: Haunt Order
• Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner: Demon Class
• Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2: Haunt Race

Profile

Shin Megami Tensei

"Origin: Japan. The forms of greedy souls. They have large heads and a thin neck, fat bellies, and shriveled limbs. They are plagued with a hunger that can never be satisfied."

—Shin Megami Tensei A-Mode DDS dictionary

A Preta is the very first demon that the protagonist actually encounters, where he attacks a civilian in the Kichijoji Mall and then proceeds to attack the protagonist, leaving the scene after inflicting substantial damage.

This event also leads the protagonist to obtain his first weapon in the game from the dead man's body, an "Attack Knife;" and his getting wrongly arrested (the fan translation specifies that he was framed by the police for the murder) that leads to his temporary incarceration and meeting the other main characters.

Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Devil's Colosseum

Gaki is faced as a boss in the tutorial maze. He is far higher leveled than in other games (level 16) and is used to explain Elemental-Based combat.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

"They are 'hungry ghosts' as they are unable to swallow food. This is a punishment in reincarnation. One with too many desires in life is doomed to spend time as a Preta."

—Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne profile

A team of three Pretas is fought in the Shinjuku Medical Center in order to retrieve an Annex Pass in order to exit the facility. They can also be found in Shibuya, Ginza and Kabukicho Prison.

Pretas are also kept by the Mantra Army to dispose of the bodies of those who lose in their trials.

Additionally, in the Labyrinth of Amala's Third Kalpa, there is a Shady Broker that sells a Preta with Almighty skills for 150,000 Macca behind a door that only opens to a demon of darkness. As such, the Demi-fiend must have a dark-aligned title before he can attempt to purchase this Preta.

Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE

"The form given to those who are cast down into the Preta Realm, one of the Six Realms of Buddhist scriptures.
Those who lived extravagant lives are said to be cast into the Preta Realm after death. Preta are constantly tormented by hunger and thirst, but whenever they put something to their mouths, it bursts into flame, and so they are eternally deprived of food and drink. Their figures are gaunt, except for their bellies which are strangely swollen."

—Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE compendium

Gaki can be contracted in Ueno, Suginami, Shinjuku Babel's docks area, Old Tokyo Metro, and the bronze level of Ichigaya Camp. It appears regularly as a tutorial boss and an enemy mob in Virtual Battle, Kuchinawa Cave, the Ichigaya Gold boss room, and some rooms in the Second Home instance. It also plays a central role in the Superficial Contract quest.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

"A ghoulish demon of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm of Hell become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated."

—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium

As an enemy, Preta sports the infamous Macca Beam, which reduces the protagonist's total Macca by 20%.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

Preta can be found in Ueno. It can teach Flynn the Life Drain and Bad Company skills through its Demon Whisper. Preta is one of the demons needed to summon Kanbari through special fusion.

Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse

"Known as gaki in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the preta realm become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated."

—Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse compendium

A Preta is responsible for instigating the events of King Frost taking over the spring in the Fairy Forest and trying to get the fairies to find the "treasure" hidden in the forest. After their idea of having a Jack Frost find the treasure failed, it reveals that it was ordered to find the treasure in the forest by some creepy god from the Divine Powers when questioned by Nozomi. Afterward, it runs off, fearing for its life.

Preta can be found within Kanda-no-yashiro. It can teach the Life Drain, Bad Company, Mudo and Mabufu skills through Demon Whisper. Preta receives a bonus to Darkness, Ice and ailment skills learned.

Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2

"Known as Gaki in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm become these unfortunate creatures. Any food they try to consume burns up in their mouth, fated to be tormented by never ending hunger and thirst."

—Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 compendium

Stats

Shin Megami Tensei

Race Alignment Level HP MP Ghost Chaos 5 25 - CP NOA ATK ACC DEF EVA M.ATK M.EFC 10 0-1 11 11 15 11 4 5 St 3 In 5 Ma 3 Vi 7 Ag 10 Lu 4 Resistances Weak to Fire and Expel, resists Ice and Elec Drop Tonfa Swd Gun Fir Ice Elc For Nrv Exp Crs Mgc Bnd Chg Dex Ndl Alm - 4／8 2× 2／8 2／8 4／8 4／8 3× Nu - 6／8 4／8 6／8 Nu - List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Feral Claw Extra Claws two enemies. (Dex-type) Call Ally - Summons reinforcement. (Enemy-only) Feral Bite Extra Bites one enemy. (Charge-type)

Shin Megami Tensei II

Race Alignment Level HP MP Haunt Dark-Chaos 3 6 6 CP NOA ATK ACC DEF EVA M.ATK M.EFC 1 1 10 9 12 9 4 4 St 2 In 3 Ma 4 Vi 3 Ag 4 Lu 2 Drop Metal Card Inherit Death Moon Aff E Swd Gun Fir Ice Elc For Nrv Exp Crs Mgc Bnd Rsh Hnd Leg Fly Alm - 6／8 1.5× 6／8 6／8 - 4／8 2× Nu - - - - - - - List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Feral Bite 3% HP Light Rush damage to one foe. Feral Claw 5% HP Light Punch attack to 2 foes. Deathtouch 4 MP Absorbs the enemy's HP.

Shin Megami Tensei: if...

Race Alignment Level HP MP Haunt Dark-Chaos 4 30 6 CP NOA ATK ACC DEF EVA M.ATK M.EFC 1 1 12 12 16 12 4 4 St 2 In 3 Ma 4 Vi 4 Ag 5 Lu 2 Drop Metal Card Inherit Curse Resistances Weak to Fire and Expel. Swd Gun Fir Ice Elc For Nrv Exp Crs Mgc Bnd Rsh Hnd Leg Fly Alm - 6／8 1.5× 6／8 6／8 - 4／8 2× Nu - - - - 6／8 - - List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Feral Bite 3% HP Light Rush damage to one foe. Feral Claw 5% HP Light Punch damage to two foes. Deathtouch 4 MP Absorbs the enemy's HP. Call Ally - Summon allies (Enemy only)

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

• Demon
• Summonable Ally
• Shady Broker

Race Level HP MP Strength -- Magic -- Vitality -- Agility -- Luck -- Haunt 4 30 24 Reflects Absorbs Void Resists Weak - - Death - Magic List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Feral Claw none Small physical damage to one foe. 75% accuracy, 25% critical rate.

Race Level HP MP Strength 5 Magic 4 Vitality 5 Agility 6 Luck 4 Haunt 4 54 24 Reflects Absorbs Void Resists Weak - - Death - Magic Obtainable Full Kagutsuchi recruitment or fusion List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Feral Claw 6% HP Small physical damage to one foe. 75% accuracy, 25% critical rate. Innate Sukukaja 12 MP Buffs agility by 1 level, all allies. Innate Haggle Interrupt Requests target to lower bribe cost. Innate Agi 3 MP Small fire damage to one foe. 5 Deathtouch 5 MP Drains a small amount of HP from one foe. Almighty-type. 6 Venom Claw 18% HP Medium physical damage and 40% poison to one foe. 76% accuracy, 24% critical rate. 7 Fog Breath 30 MP Decreases agility by 2 levels, all foes. 8

Race Level HP MP Strength 5 Magic 4 Vitality 5 Agility 6 Luck 4 Haunt 4 54 24 Reflects Absorbs Void Resists Weak - - Death - Magic Obtainable purchase for 150,000 macca List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Megido 30 MP Medium almighty damage to all foes. Innate Megidola 37 MP Heavy almighty damage to all foes. Innate Megidolaon 50 MP Mega almighty damage to all foes. Innate Mediarahan 35 MP Fully restores party's HP. Innate Invalid skill name of "Samarecarm". You may correct the skill name or modify module:Skills/SMT3 if needed. Innate Tetrakarn 45 MP Creates shields which repel non-almighty physical attack for all allies. Shield lasts one turn or until it has blocked one attack. Innate Makarakarn 45 MP Creates shields which repel non-almighty magic attack for all allies. Shield lasts one turn or until it has blocked one attack. Innate Recarmdra 0 Sacrifices user's life to fully recover all other combatants' HP and MP. Innate Agi 3 MP Small fire damage to one foe. 5 Deathtouch 5 MP Drains a small amount of HP from one foe. Almighty-type. 6 Venom Claw 18% HP Medium physical damage and 40% poison to one foe. 76% accuracy, 24% critical rate. 7 Fog Breath 30 MP Decreases agility by 2 levels, all foes. 8

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

Race Alignment Level HP MP Strength 8 Magic 5 Vitality 6 Agility 7 Luck 2 Haunt Dark-Chaos 6 79 41 Attack Type Single foe/1/Physical/Poison - - Weak Weak - Weak Weak Strong - Poison Paralyze Stone Strain Sleep Charm Mute Fear Bomb Rage - - - - - - Weak - - - Natural Skills Tarunda Feral Claw D-Source Skills Toxic Cloud Item Drops Haunt Ball Life Stone Revival Bead Password k-FoioonizEzud3h CxEpyvkpixanixCz

Shin Megami Tensei IV

Race Level HP MP Strength 18 Dexterity 17 Magic 17 Agility 21 Luck 18 Ghost 12 154 68 Phys Gun Fire Ice Elec Force Light Dark - - Weak Null - Weak Weak Null Ailment Resistance None Normal Attack Phys x1, 1 enemy List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Life Drain 5 MP Drains small amount of HP from one foe. Innate Bad Company 15 MP Summons highest level demons from the stock. Innate Resist Fire Auto Reduces fire damage. 14

Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse

Race Level HP MP Strength 17 Dexterity 17 Magic 17 Agility 17 Luck 17 Ghost 11 140 66 Phys Gun Fire Ice Elec Force Light Dark - - Weak Resist - Weak Weak Null Ailment Resistance None Normal Attack Phys x1, 1 enemy Skill Affinities Dark +3 · Ice +2 · Ailment +1 · Healing -1 · Fire -3 · Force -3 · Light -3 List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Life Drain 5 MP Drains small amount of HP from one foe. Innate Bad Company 15 MP Summons highest level demons from the stock. Innate Mudo 6 MP Weak dark damage to one foe. Smirk +30% instant death 13 Mabufu 12 MP Weak ice damage to all foes. 14

Last Bible III

Level HP MP ATK DEF STR INT END SPD LUC 3 29 11 7 9 7 8 8 9 8 Equipment Arm, Armor, Accessory Card Location Battle

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner

Race Level HP MP St In Ma Vi Ag Lu Haunt 4 28 11 3 3 4 4 4 3 CP NOA Personality P.ATK P.HIT B.DEF AVD M.ATK M.DEF 6 1 Impatient 14 10 16 10 9 8 List of Skills Charm Bite

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers

Race Level HP MP St In Ma En Ag Lu Haunt 3 43 27 4 3 3 3 3 4 CP MAG Summon Personality P.ATK P.HIT B.DEF AVD M.ATK M.HIT 1 72 Dumb 14 6 28 6 25 8 Reflects Absorbs Void Resists Weak - - Death - Expel List of Skills Scratch

Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs King Abaddon

• Random Encounter
• Summonable Ally

Order Level HP St Ma Vi Lu Conversation Investigation Frost 4 114 7 7 5 5 Extortion Cool Down Reflects Absorbs Block Resists Weak Frail - - Ice, Death - Force Electric, Fire List of Skills Skill Effect Bufu Light Ice dmg to an enemy. Stun:Short

Order Level HP St Ma Vi Lu Conversation Investigation Frost 4 104 7 7 5 5 Extortion Cool Down Reflects Absorbs Block Resists Weak Frail - - Ice, Death - Force Electric, Fire List of Skills Skill Cost Effect Level Bufu 8 MAG Light Ice dmg to an enemy. Stun:Short Innate Makajam 16 MAG Light Mind dmg to an area +Mute(Med) 5 Finders Keepers Passive Find items while walking Max Loyalty

Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku

Race Alignment Level HP MP CP Equip Type Haunt Dark-Chaos 4 34 25 7 ? Intuition Will Power Magic Intelligence Divine Protection 6 5 7 7 5 Strength Stamina Agility Dexterity Charm 10 9 11 8 3 List of Skills Deathtouch Feral Claw Scorn Poison Bite Shibaboo Self-Destruct

Megami Ibunroku Persona

• Normal Encounter
• Boss (Mikage Ruins B12F)

Order Type Subtype Level HP SP Drops Haunt Dark Curse 3 30 15 Dis-Poison MAtk MDef Strength 3 Vitality 4 Dexterity 2 Agility 2 Luck 2 22 19 Traits Gloomy, Timid 1h 2h Sp Ax Wp Th Ar Fs HG MG SG Ri Te Ru - - - - - - - 2× 2×Rf 2×Rf 2×Rf 2×Rf - - Fi Ic Wi Er El Nc Bl Gr Ex Mi De Cu Nr ??? 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 2.5× 2.5× ½Rf 1／4 Nu - List of Skills Skill Effect Feral Bite Light Rush damage (1 foe) Poison Claw Light Tech damage+Poison (1 foe) Deathtouch Lowers experience (1 foe)

Order Type Subtype Level HP SP Drops Haunt Dark Curse 99 4,800 150 - MAtk MDef Strength 99 Vitality 99 Dexterity 99 Agility 63 Luck 53 180 60 Traits None 1h 2h Sp Ax Wp Th Ar Fs HG MG SG Ri Te Ru - - - - - - - 2× 2×Rf 2×Rf 2×Rf 2×Rf - - Fi Ic Wi Er El Nc Bl Gr Ex Mi De Cu Nr ??? 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 3／4 2.5× 2.5× ½Rf 1／4 Nu - List of Skills Skill Effect Feral Bite Light Rush damage (1 foe) Poison Claw Light Tech damage+Poison (1 foe) Deathtouch Lowers experience (1 foe)

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner

Race Level HP MP Drops Demon 3 36 16 - Reflects Absorbs Void Resists Weak - - - - Fire, Earth List of Skills Skill Effect Zio Weak Electric damage and Shock(15%) on one foe. Zan Weak Force damage on one foe. Body Rush Weak Physical damage, 1 enemy. Reinforcements Summons Preta.

Gallery

Gaki as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner.

Preta with alternate skin.

Preta as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.

Preta as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE.

Preta as it appears in Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Lone Marebito.

Preta's sprite in Last Bible III